Bengals Receive Roster Exemption For LB Vontaze Burfict

The Cincinnati Bengals received a roster exemption for reinstated LB Vontaze Burfict, which means they have a few days to make a roster move to create a spot for him.

Burfict served his suspension for a hit on Steelers WR Antonio Brown during the Wildcard game last year. Part of Burfict’s suspension was for repeated violations of safety-related playing rules.

Burfict was previously been fined for safety-related violations four times in 2015, including a $50,000 fine for unnecessarily contacting an opponent who was out of the play in Cincinnati’s Week 17 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Burfict, 26, is entering the third year of his four-year, $20 million contract. He stands to make a base salary of $2.85 million for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Burfict appeared in 10 games and recorded 74 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and five pass defenses for the Bengals.